A man lost his temper and glassed his ex-lover on the head after his attempts to rekindle their relationship were rejected.

The attack happened in front of customers, including families eating out, at the Bees Knees pub restaurant, Thorpe Astley, in Leicester, on November 22.

James Higgins (34), of Trinity Road, Enderby , was jailed for eight months after he admitted causing actual bodily harm to his former boyfriend, who suffered several cuts near his eye, needing hospital treatment.

The victim, who has facial scarring and still suffers from pain, says he now feels “paranoid” about his safety and had not felt able to return to the pub where he used to be a regular.

What judge said in sentencing

Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey told Higgins: “I have to sentence you for glassing someone.

“The person who was injured was someone you’d been in a relationship with.

“The relationship had recently ended.

“You contacted him and met up at the pub.

“Initially things were fine, but when he refused to rekindle the relationship you became touchy about it.”

Close up of a man's hand grasping a mostly drunk, glass of beer (Image: Getty Images)

The Judge added: “You struck him to the right side of his forehead with a glass and it caused an injury to his forehead which was repaired with glue and butterfly stitches.

“He suffered cuts and grazes very close to his right eye.

“When the police attended, you said ‘I’ve glassed my partner.’

“You used a weapon in a public house in front of members of the public.

“It was a single blow, but with a glass.

“I’ve thought long and hard about this … but when you take a glass and ram it into someone’s head with such force it smashes, and it’s so close to their eye, regretfully, there can only be one outcome.”

'Without warning you glassed him'

Jasmine Kumar, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court the defendant and complainant were in a relationship for about a year, before splitting up a week before the assault.

She said they agreed to meet at the pub, at 6.30pm, and Higgins suggested getting back together, which the complainant did not want to do.

They shared a cigarette outside and the complainant went inside and sat at the bar.

Miss Kumar said: “The defendant was seen approaching him from behind with a beer glass, a quarter full.